Pakistani government officials pledged
future support of World Vision programmes in the country in a meeting in Peshawar, the capital city of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on 23 January. The meeting highlighted World
Vision's work to restore earthquake-affected communities in the NWFP and its commitment to long-term sustainable development in the area.
'We as government officials are responsible to
fulfill our duty to care for vulnerable people. We will support World Vision in its partnership with Pakistan's poor because it is committed to a long-term strategy for sustainable development,' said
Esamuddin Khan Bangash, provincial caretaker minister of NWFP for agriculture and livestock.
'We are very happy to have the government's trust as a result of our hard work and the
transparency of our programmes in Pakistan. Through meetings like today's we want to continue to improve our coordination with the regional and federal government,' said Graham Strong, World Vision
Pakistan Director, when presenting World Vision's long-term strategy and programme accomplishments in the country.
Representatives from line agencies and partnering organizations who
participated in the meeting also stated their willingness to support and coordinate with World Vision in the future.
'We are excited about the goals of World Vision's work in Pakistan and
will extend our services to World Vision Pakistan whenever it asks for support,' said Dr. Fazal Ur Rehman, Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency provincial donor coordinator.
World Vision Pakistan is in the midst of a three-year strategy that aims to restore and improve the lives of those living in earthquake-affected communities. Working in 87 rural areas in Kaghan
Valley, Siran Valley, and Oghi, World Vision's integrated programmes focus on activities related to children, livelihoods, and humanitarian emergency assistance. World Vision Pakistan's programmes
expand into the urban areas of Kohat, Karak, Rawalpindi to benefit children and families affected by HIV/AIDS.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
A Tarahumara woman covers herself from cold air in the hamlet of Rikinapuchi, northern Chihuahua state January 22, 2008. In the snows and freezing air of northern Mexico's remote Sierra Tarahumara ...
